The Legacy of Jean and Matt McLaughlin

The spirit of the aesthetically pleasing Women’s Center is inspired by its namesake – Jean McLaughlin.

The late Jean and Matt McLaughlin are major benefactors who have generously funded many hospital programs, projects and equipment needs to benefit the community. Before Jean passed away on February 15, 2003, one month shy of their sixty-second wedding anniversary, her husband assured that her spirit and commitment would live on through a charitable gift annuity of $4 million. This major contribution was designated for the new Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion, home of the Jean McLaughlin Women’s Center for Health and Healing.

“Giving back to the community has always been a focus for Jean and me, and we recognized that, with an aging and growing population, our community needed more hospital services,” Mr. McLaughlin says. “I was fortunate in business and figured that money only helps when it’s put to good purposes. So, I spoke with my personal physician, Dr. Marcelo Rivera, about my desire to get involved. He connected me with the Foundation and I asked ‘what does the hospital need most right now?’”

The McLaughlin’s first major gift was designated to refurbishing Palomar Medical Center Poway’s Emergency Department. Soon after, they contributed additional funds to purchase new radiology equipment. In 2003, the Foundation received a $250,000 gift from the McLaughlins for the purchase of a state-of-the-art stereotactic breast biopsy system that provides minimally invasive diagnosis of breast cancer, which offers the patient many benefits over open surgical biopsies. Additionally, the McLaughlins funded more than $300,000 in nursing scholarships by establishing the Matt and Jean McLaughlin Scholarship Fund through Palomar Health Foundation. These scholarships are critical in addressing the nursing shortage.

“Jean McLaughlin was my patient,” says Marcelo R. Rivera, M.D., a board-certified internist and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Palomar Health. “She was a wonderful, intelligent and giving woman who had a beautiful smile, warm personality and a deep commitment to the community.”

Create your own legacy through the gift of good health. If you would like to make a contribution to the Jean McLaughlin Women's Center for Health and Healing, please visit www.palomarhealthfoundation.org or call 760.739.2787.